PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – A Haitian politician and former coup leader wanted for alleged drug trafficking and money laundering in the United States was arrested yesterday, a police source said, days before he was slated to take up a Senate seat.
Guy Philippe, who was elected senator from the southwestern Grand Anse region in a second-round election on Nov. 20, was arrested after a radio interview in Petionville, near the capital, Port-au-Prince.
It was not immediately clear why he was arrested.
Philippe, who led a coup that drove Jean-Bertrand Aristide from the presidency in 2004, was suspected in 2015 of involvement in an attack on a police headquarters in the southern city of Les Cayes in which at least six people were killed.
Haitian officials issued a warrant for Philippe’s arrest over the incident, but his lawyers said it was invalid because he was a candidate.
Philippe would enjoy immunity in some criminal proceedings once in office. He was not scheduled to take his Senate seat until Monday.
Former Haitian coup leader arrested after Senate seat win -source
PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – A Haitian politician and former coup leader wanted for alleged drug trafficking and money laundering in the United States was arrested yesterday, a police source said, days before he was slated to take up a Senate seat.
Guy Philippe, who was elected senator from the southwestern Grand Anse region in a second-round election on Nov. 20, was arrested after a radio interview in Petionville, near the capital, Port-au-Prince.
It was not immediately clear why he was arrested.
Philippe, who led a coup that drove Jean-Bertrand Aristide from the presidency in 2004, was suspected in 2015 of involvement in an attack on a police headquarters in the southern city of Les Cayes in which at least six people were killed.
Haitian officials issued a warrant for Philippe’s arrest over the incident, but his lawyers said it was invalid because he was a candidate.
Philippe would enjoy immunity in some criminal proceedings once in office. He was not scheduled to take his Senate seat until Monday.
